Singapore is 195 years old being founded on February 6, 1819. Singapore is located on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia, between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Singapore has 63 islands, the main island recognized as Singapore is also known as Pulau Ujong. Countries around Singapore are Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Brunei, and Christmas Island. In 1819 Thomas Stamford Raffles came to Singapore and signed a treaty with Sultan Hussein Shah of Johor on behalf of the British East India Company this gave the British the chance to develop a trading post in the southern part of Singapore. In 1824 the entire Island was under British control with another treaty with the Sultan and the Temenggong. During World War II the Imperial Japanese Army invaded British Malaya. The British were defeated on February 15, 1942 Winston Churchhill British Prime Minister at the time called the defeat "the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history". On August 31, 1963 Singapore declared independence from the United Kingdom and joined the Federation of Malaya. On August 9, 1965 Singapore gained independence and adopted the name of the Republic of Singapore.
Flag of the Federation of Malaya
History of the Federation of Malaya